Machine for erecting posts and poles.



No. 885,042. PATENTBD APR. "21, 190s.

R. GUTHRIB.

MACHINE FOB. ERBGTING POSTS AND POLES. 4

APPLIUATION' FILED AUG. 2x8. 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.l

'l PATENTED :Ama 1908. 1%. GUTHRIB. l

y MACHINE FOR ERECTING POSTS AND POLES.

` APPLIOATION rILBn.AG.a.19o7. v

3 SHEETS-snm: a.

' JMW may I I I I fltto'onua UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT GUTHRIE, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.,-

MACHINE FOR ERECTING POSTS AND `POLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led August 28, 1907.

Patented April 21, 1908.

serial No. 390,522.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT GUTHRIE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska,have invented a new and useful The object of the invention is to provideav strong, durable and thoroughly efficient machine of the classdescribed by means of which a line of posts or poles may be quicklyerected in proper position to receive the overhead wires or conductors,

Afurther object ofthe invention is to provide means for lifting the poleand means for guiding the latter into the excavation or hole previouslyformed to receive the same.

A further object is to provide means for tamping the earth around thepole, and means for locking the ole against accidental displacementduring t e tamping operation.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve thisclass of devices so as to increase their utility, durability andefficiency.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the following description,it being understood that various changes in form, prol portions andminor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of theappended claims. ,j

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance withmy invention. Fig. 2 is a top lan view of the machine partly in section.

ig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4 is a detaill perspective view of thetamping plates and their associated parts. l

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of thefigures of the drawings.

Theimproved mechanism forming the subject matter of the presentinvention is preferably mounted on a truck including the front and reartraction wheels 5 and 6, to the `bolsters of which is secured in anysuitable manner a platform 7 Mounted on the platform 7 is a derrick orsuperstructure preferably formed in two sections, the lower portion ofthe front derrick 8 being connected to the lower portion of the rearderrick 9 'by intersecting diagonal braces 10. v

One of the vertical bars of each set is secured to the adjacentlongitudinal beam 11 of the platform by means of a strap iron or bracket12 while the opposite ends of said vertical bars are bolted or otherwiserigidly secured to a horizontal bar 13 to form a support for theauxiliary platform 14.

The upper section of the derrick is similar in construction to the lowersection and is secured thereto by connecting plates 15 which engage thevcurved terminals 16 of the vertical bars of vthe adjacent lowersection, as shown. j

It will thus be seen that by removing the bolts 17 of the diagonalbraces 18 and one of the fastening devices 19 on each plate, the

vertical bars 20 and diagonal bars 18 of the upper derrick section maybe folded downwardly on the auxiliary p atform 14 thereby to permit thetruck to pass beneath the bridges, over-head wires and similarobstructions. The ends of the derrick members are curved on the innerfaces only, so that the upper members may be turned down. The `outeredges are square to prevent folding in an outward direction.

Mounted on the platform 7 is a motor preferably in the form of a gasengine 21 to the driving shaft 22 of' which is secured a pinion 28,which latter meshes with a master gear 24 carried by a stub shaft 25.

The shaft 25 is journaled in suitable bearings 26 and is provided .witha pinion 27 which meshes with a gear wheel 28.

The gear wheel 28 is secured to a shaft 29 extending transversely acrossthe platform and mounted in suitable bearings 80, similar inconstruction to the bearings 25.y

Mounted loosely von the intermediate portion of the shaft 29 is a drum31 to which is attached one end of a cord or cable 32 the opposite endof which passes over a block 33 secured to one of the vertical bars 20of the derrick and thence extends downwardly at the rear of the truckfor engagement with the pole or post to be erected. The drum may beconnected to the shaft by a clutch 32 One end of the shaft 29 isprovided with a sprocket wheel 34 which is connected by a -sprocketchain 35 with asimilar sprocket Wheel 36 secured to a crank shaft 37extending transversely across the truck at the rear;

the longitudinal sills of the upper frame 39 While the latter issupported in spaced relation to the lower frame 38 by standards 40 and41.

The lower ends of the standards 40 are extended below the adjacent frame38 and are provided with wear plates or guides 42 on which are slidablymounted for vertical movement blocks or castings 43 having laterallyextending flanges 44 which embrace the guides 42, as sh own.

The blocks or castings 43 are provided with laterally extending arms 44the terminals of which are riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to asegmental supporting plate 45, the latter being provided with a pivotedsection or gate 46 which may be swung laterally on the pivot pin 47 toopen position so as lto permit the introduction of the post or o e.

he opposite ends of the pivoted section 46 are bifurcated to form spacedears 48 which embrace the tamper plate 45, the ears at one end ofthepivoted section being pierced by a pin or bolt 49 which engages acorrespondlngly shaped opening formed in the tamper plate and serves tolock the pivoted section m closed position.

Disposed above and arranged in alinement with the movable late is astationary tamper plate 50 alIso provided with a pivoted section 51similar in construction to the section 46 to permit the introduction ofthe post or pole.

The upper plate 50 is secured to the adjacent upright 40 by means ofattaching brackets 52, there being bolts or similar fastening devices 53passing through elongated slots 54 formed in the plate 50 so that saidplate may be adjusted with respect to the standards 40 thereby to alinethe upper plate with the lower plate 45 and prevent said plates frombinding against the pole to be erected.

Secured to 01 formed integral with the sliding blocks 43 are laterallyextending trunnions 55 each of Which is pivotally connected With one endof a pitman 56, the opposite end of Which is operatively connected tothe crank shaft 37 so that when the latter is rotated the lower plate 45will be reciprocated Within the rear frames or pockets 38 and 39 of thetruck.

The tamping plates 45 and 50 together with the pivoted sections 46 and5l are provided with vertically alined openings 57 preferably angular incross section and in which are slidably mounted for vertical movementtamping members or bars 58.

The bars 58 are angular in cross section to conform to the shape of theopenings 57 and are provided with terminal shoes 59 adapted to engagethe ground around the pole and tamp or pack the earth around said pole.

Secured to the movable plate 45 are a plurality of sets of spaced lugs60 between each set of which is pivotally mounted at 6,1 a gripping dog62. One end of each dog is provided with an. enlarged head having areetangular socket 63 formed therein for the reception of the adjacenttamping rod 58 whileI the opposite end thereof is normally andyieldingly held in elevated position by a `[lat spring 64. It will thusbe seen that the walls of the socket 63 will bite into or clutch therods 58 so that when the tamper plate 45 is moved upwardly the tampingdevices will also be elevated.A

Depending from the lower face of the stationary plate 50 are a pluralityof depending arms or lingers 65 the free ends of which are bentlaterally to form ears 66 having threaded openings formed therein forthe reception of screws or trips 67.

The trips 67 extend'in the path of movement of the gripping dogs 62 sothat when the reduced ends of the dogs strike the adjacent screws ortrips 67, said dogs may be tilted thereby to release the walls of thesocket from engagement with the adjacent tamping rods 38 and thus permitsaid rods to fall by gravity to lowered position and thoroughly tamp theearth around the base of the pole.

The trips or scr'ews 67 are adjustable vertically in the threadedsockets of the ears 66 so that said trips may engage the pivoted dogsalternately, successively or simultaneously thereby to vary the strokeof the tamping members according to the nature of the work to beperformed. It will thus be seen that when the clutch lever is actuatedto lock the sprocket wheel 34 on the driving shaft 29 motion will beimparted to the crank shaft 37 to reciprocate the lower plate 45 andthereby actuate the tamping ineinbers. As the lower plate 45 movesupuf'ardljv between the guides 42 it carries with it the several tampingelements or rods 58 which are released and dropped by gravity inengagement with the ground as soon as the pivoted dogs engage the screwsor trips 67. On the downward movement of the plate 45 `the dogs 62 willride over the walls of the tamping rods 58 until the pitinan has reachedthe end of its stroke when an upward movement on the tam er plate willcause the dogs '62 to again grip t e tamping rods and elevate woundtherrwires to be strung upon the cross arms of the poles or osts.

Pivotally mounte on the cross bar 71 at the front of the truck are alurality of pivotally mounted pawls 72 the fiee ends of which engage theteeth of ratchet wheels 73 carried by the 'drums or reels 70 thereby tomaintain4 the wire under tension during the stretching operation or whentransferring the truck from one post-hole to another.

As a means for simultaneously releasing the several pawls 72 there isprovided an actuating rod 73 which is journaled in the adjacent verticalbars 8 of the derrick and is provided with a plurality of cams or'eccentrics 74 which extend beneath the pawls 72 so that by rotating theterminal crank arm 75 the several pawls mayl be elevated to inoperativeposition thereby to ermit free rotation of the drums on the s aft 69.The pawls 72 being separately pivoted to the cross bars 71 may beelevated independently of each other or simultaneously, as desired, soas to permit rotation of one or all of the wire carrying reels.

Disposed at the forward end of the platform is a foot lever 76 the innerend of which extends beneath the wire carrying reels and is providedwith one or more brake straps 77 which engage the drums on the wirecarrying device, said foot lever being pivotally mounted on the latformso that by depressing the free end o the lever the straps may be movedinto frictional engagement with said drums thereby to regulate theunwinding of the wire from the reels.y

Secured to one end of the shaft 69 is a belt pulley 76 which isoperatively connected with a similar pulley 77 on the transverse shaft29, whereby so that power may be transmitted from the engine to the wirecarrying reels to rotate the same.

The lever 78 is pivotally mounted on the platform of the truck and isprovided with a and brake 79 which engages the sheave or drum 31 therebyto regulate' the descent of the pole when lowering the same into thehole or excavation designed to receive the same.

Theoperation of the device is as follows t-r- The truck is moved to aposition with the center. of the tamper over the center of the posthole. The-gates 46 and 51 are opened and cable 32 is attached to thepole. The motor is then started and clutch 32 is thrown in, starting thewinding drum 31 into motion.

The hoisting cable 32 has one or more turns around the winding drum andthe end is taken off by the operator as the winding proceeds in the samemanner as with an ordinary winch or capstan. When the pole has reachedthe proper height, the clutch 32 will be thrown out. At the same timethe lever 78 is actuated and the brake applied to the winding drum. Therope is then slackened or surged and the pole allowed to settle downinto the hole. The pole is turned until it assumes correct position andthe gates 46 and 51 are closed. The clutch lever 68 is then operated inorder to connect the sprocketA wheel 34 to the shaft 29, so that motionwill be transmitted to the crank shaft 37 for actuating the tam ers.During this operation a workman at t e top of the derrick is attachy ingthe wires to the pole, and at the same time another workman actuates thewire reel to release or slacken the wires and give a proper drop to thewire between the poles. When this is done the awl 7 2 is dropped intolocking position and olds the wires under tension until all of the wiresare fixed and the hole is filled and tamped. The gates 46 and 51 arethen opened and remain open until the next pole is in position. Theworkman then forces the foot lever 76 down to release the pole 72 sothat the Wire will unreel when driving forward to the next position.

' When passing under relatively low bridges,

' over-head wires, and the like, the upper section of the supportingderrick may be folded Adownwardly on the auxiliary platform by releasingthe fastening bolts, in the manner before described.

From the foregoing description it is thought that the construction andoperation of the device will be readily understood by those skilled inthe art and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

. 1. A machine of the class described including a truck having means forsupporting a pole, a tamping device, and a motor carried by the truckfor actuating the tamping device.

. 2. A machine of the class described including a truck having means forsupporting a pole, a plurality of tamping members surrounding the pole,and means for actuating the tamping members.

3. A machine of the class described including a truck having alinedframes at one end thereof for the reception of a pole, a tamping devicedisposed within the frames and adapted to embrace the pole, and meansfor actuating the tamping device.

4. A machine of the class described including a truck having means forsupporting a pole, a tamping device surrounding the po e, a crank shaft,a pitman connecting the crank shaft and tamping device, and means forrotating the shaft thereby to actuate said tamping device.

5. A machine of the class described including a truck, spaced tampingplates disposed at one end of the truck and adapted to receive a pole,said plates being provided with pivoted sections movable laterally toopen position, tamping members extending through the plates, and meansfor operating the tamping` members.

6. A machine of the class described including a truck, relativelystationary and movable plates carried by the truck and having segmentalrecesses formed therein for the reception of a pole, said plates beingeach provided with a pivoted section movable laterallyT to openposition, tamping members extending through the plates, and meansoperatively connected with the movable plate for actuating the tampingmembers.

7. A machine of the class described including a truck, segmental membersmounted on the truck and each provided with a pivoted. section movablelaterally to open position, tamping rods extending through said members,and means for actuating the tamping rods.

8. A machine of the class described including a truck, verticallydisposed guides secured to one end of the truck, a movable plateslidably mounted between the guides, a stationary plate disposed abovethe movable plate, said stationary and movable plates being providedwith pivoted sections movable laterally to open position, tampingmembers extending through said plates, crank shaft, a pitman forming aconnection between the crank shaft and movable plate, and means forrotating the crank shaft thereby to actuate the tamping members.

9. A machine ot the class described including a truck, relativelystationary and movable work engaging members carried by the truck andeach provided With a pivoted section movable laterally to open position,tam Jing members extending through the Worllr engaging members, grippingdevices carried by one of the work engaging members and adapted toengage the tamping members for elevating the same, means carried by theWork engaging member for actuating the gripping devices to release thetamping members, and means for actuating the movable Work engagingmember.

10. A machine of the class described including a truck, a stationarysegmental plate secured to one end of the truck, a movable segmentalplate disposed in alinement with the stationary plate, said plates beingprovided with pivoted sections movable laterally to open position,tamping rods extending through said plates, gripping dogs carried by themovable plate and adapted to engage the rods for elevating the same, and

arms depending from the upper plate and y adapted to engage and releasethe gripping dogs on the upward movement ol the movable plate.

11. A machine oi the class described including a truck, relativelystationary and movable segmental plates carried by one end of the truckand each provided with a pivoted section movable laterally to openposition, said plates being provided with alined openings, tamping rodsmounted for vertical movement in said openings, gripping devices carriedby the lower plate and adapted to engage the tamping rods for elevatingthe Same, means carried by the upper plate for releasing the grippingdevices, and means for reciprocating the movable plate.

12. A machine of the class described including a support, relativelystationary and movable work engaging members carried by the support andeach provided with a pivoted section adapted to embrace the work,tamping devices movable vertically of said members, gripping devicescarried by one of the members and adapted to engage the tamping devicesfor elevating the same, means carried by the upper work engaging memberfor releasing the gripping devices, and means for reciprocating themovable `work engaging member.

13. A machine of the class described including a truck, relativelystationary and movable work engaging members carried by one end of thetruck and each provided with. a pivoted section adapted to embrace thework, a plurality of sets of spaced lugs extending vertically from thelower member, tamping rods movable vertically through the members,gripping dogs pivotally mounted between the lugsand adapted to engagethe tamping rods, arms depending from the upper member and adapted totrip the dogs to release the tamping rods, and means for reciprocatingthe lower work engaging member.

14. A machine of the class described including a truck, relativelystationary and movable work-engaging members carried by one end of thetrucks and each provided with a pivoted section adapted to embrace thework, said sections being formed with alined openings, tamping redsmovable vertically within the openings, gripping dogs pivotally mountedon the lower member and provided with gripping heads adapted to engagethe tamping rods for elevating the latter, arms depending from the uppersection and having their free ends bent laterally, screws threaded inthe bent ends of the arms and adapted to engage and release the grippingdogs to permit the descent of the tamper rods, and means forreciprocating the inevable work engaging member.

l5. A machine of the class described includin(r a support, relativelystationary and movab e work engaging members each provided with apivoted section movable laterally to open position, tamping devicesmovable vertically of the sections, gripping devices carri'ed by thelower member and adapted to engage the tamping devices for elevating thesame, means carried by the upper work engaging member for alternately orsimultaneously releasing the gripping devices to permit the descent ofthe tamping devices, and means for reciprocating the v lowerwork-engaging member.

16. A machine of the class described including a truck, relativelystationary and movable tamping members carried by the truck and eachprovided with a pivoted section movable laterally to open position,tamping rods movable vertically of the members, spring actuated grippindogs carried by the movable member and a apted to engage the tampingrods for elevating the latter, arms depending from the upper workengaging member and extending in the path of ,movement of the grippingdogs for releasing the latter, and means for operating the movablemember. y

17. A machine of the class described including a truck, relativelystationary and movable work engaging members carried by one end of thetruck and each provided with a pivoted section movable laterally to openposition, said members being formed with alined openings, tamping rodsmovable vertically within the openings, spring actuated gripping dogscarried by the movable member and adapted to engage the rods forelevating the same, means extending in the path of movement of the dogsfor releasing the latter to permit the descent of the tamping rods, andmeans operatively connected with the lower work engaginglmember forreciprocating the same.

18. A machine of the class described including a truck having one endthereof provided with rectangular frames, vertical guides connectingsaid frames, relatively stationary and movable work engaging membersdisposed within the frames and each provided with a pivoted sectionadapted to embrace the work, tamping devices adjustablevertically ofsaid members, gripping dogs carried by the movable member and adapted toengage and elevate the t'amping devices, means depending from the upperwork engaging member and extending in the path of movement ofthetripping dogs for releasing the latter to permit the descent of thetamping devices, slides mounted for vertical movement on the guides andoperatively connected with the lower member, a crank shaft, a pitmanconnecting the crank shaft and slide, and means for rotating the crankshaft.

19. A machine of the class described including a truck having spacedframes at one end thereof, relatively stationary and movable workengaging members disposed within vstationary member and the frames andeach provided with a pivoted section movable laterally to open position,tamping rods movable vertically of said members, spring actuatedgripping dogs carried by the lower member and adapted to engage thetamping rods for elevating the latter, means carried by the uppersection and extending in the path of movement of the grip- -ping dogsfor releasing the latter thereby to permit the descent of the tampingrods, guides forming a part of the frame, slides mounted on the guidesand operatively connected with the lower work engaging member, a crankshaft, a pitman forming a connection between theI slides and the crankshaft, a motor, and a connection between the motor, and a crank shaftfor operating the latter.

20. A machineof the class described including a truck, relativelystationary and movable members carried by one end of the truck and eachprovided with a pivoted section adapted to embrace the work, guidesextending vertically of the truck, tamping.

rods mounted for reciprocation in said members, gripping dogs carried bythe lower member and adapted to engage and elevate the tamping rods,means depending from the upper member and extending in the path ofmovement of the dogs for releasing the latter thereby to permit thedescent of the tamper rods, slides operatively connected with the lowermember and engaging the guides, a crank shaft, a pitman forming apivotal connection between the crank shaft and guides, a motor, atransverse shaft driven by the motor, a connection between thetransverse `shaft and crank shaft for rotating the latter,

a drum secured to the transverse shaft, and a cable secured to the drumand adapted to engage the work for positioning the same between therelatively stationary and movable members.

21. A machine of the class described in-` cluding a truck having aplatform and pro'- vided with longitudinal sills extending beyond theplatform at one end of the truck to form a substantially rectangularframe, bars spaced from and disposed parallel with the extended ends ofthe beams and forming a second frame, vertical guides' connecting saidframes, relatively stationary and movable work engaging members disposedwithin the frameand each provided with a pivoted section movablelaterally to o en position, said frames being formed wit alinedopenings, `camping rods mounted for reciprocation in said openings,pawls pivotally mounted on the movable member and providedwith grippingheads adapted to re- 1 ceive Iand engage the tamping rods for elevatingthe latter, arms de ending from the aving their free ends deflected andprovided with perforations the walls of which are threaded, screwsengaging the threaded Walls of the perforaconnected With the motor lorrotating` the tions and extending in the path of movement crank shaftthereby to aotuate the tamping of the gripping dogs for releasing thelatter rods,

thereby to permit the descent of the tamp- In testimony that I claim theforegoing as 5 g rods, blocks slidably mounted on the my own, I havehereto aiixed my signature 15 guides and operatively connected With thein the presence of two Witnesses.

movable member, a transverse crank shaft ROBERT GUTHRIE. journaled inthe bars of the upper frame, a Witnesses: pitman connecting the crankshaft and slid- R. SPRINGER,

10 ing blocks, a motor, and means operatively L. J. DUNN.

